My Trip Reports - Capetown.
Ellemay
From my travel journals -
2 May 2006
based on 18 votes
Capetown is a very interesting city to visit, it has beautiful beaches, a gorgeous harbour, and stunning countryside. It is a wonderful place to explore anytime of the year..
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Cape Town, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch
- Category: Best of
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Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Shopping, Active/Outdoors, Repeat visitors
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Appeals to: Business travellers , Honeymooners, Families with small children, Large groups, Active/adventure, Tourists
- Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
- Tags: What to do in capetown
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1. Commodore Hotel/ Portswood Hotel
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Ave price:
$493
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These hotels are situated in wonderful position just two minutes walk down to the waterfront. The hotels are connected to each other, and both are in outstanding positions.We stayed at the Portswood, the foyer is small and appealing with fast, friendly check in service. Staffs seems to be plentiful and welcoming. Down two steps is the bar and restaurant area. Breakfast is served overlooking the pool, with a lovely European flavour and ambiance. The only complaint we have of this hotel is the size of the rooms.You could stay at the Cape Grace Hotel with it's wonderful views but really I do not think you can go past this hotel for value and position.
We did have drinks at the Commodore in the gardens overlooking the pool, and it was delightful. The Commodore is the more upmarket of the two, so really it comes down to your budget, but both offer excellent accommodation, location and service. |
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2. Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
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| I know this area is very touristy but on a lovely spring day walking around the waterfront and watching seals sunbathe on the wharf, is truly enchanting and wonderful. There are heaps of cafes/restaurants/shops and tours to tempt any traveller. This is the place to go if you want to book a tour. |
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Now, if you have a problem with heights, then I suggest you stay on the ground. Catching the cable car up Table mountain is really something else...but the views are awesome, Cape Town's Table Mountain is a must for any visitor and provides breathtaking views over the city and its beaches. The panorama stretches from Table Bay to False Bay and around the mountain to the Hout Bay Valley and Kommetjie. On a clear day one has a magnificent view across the Cape Flats to the Hottentots Holland Mountains...be brave and just do it.
You can either catch the open top tour bus to get there or a taxi from the city. It costs R130 return on the cable car. You cannot book as its subjected to the weather conditions.
First Car Up 08h30
Last Car Up 17h00
Last Car Down 18h00 |
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| The gorgeous gardens of Kirstenbosch are situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. Roughly 6 000 species of Southern Africa's flora are represented, particularly that of the Cape floral kingdom, known as fynbos. This a perfect way to spend a lovely Spring day. |
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To see Robben Island one must book a ferry ride at the waterfront, there is a large complex which houses all the information about this haunting island. This tour is really a full day experience and one not to miss if staying in Capetown.Apart from visiting the concentration camps in Poland, this Island has the same amount of appalling history. ..but at least after 27 years in imprisonment Nelson Mandela was set free...unlike those of the WW11 victims.
The normal tour to Robben Island takes approx 3.5 hours , including the two half-hour ferry rides. Ferries depart at the Clock Tower precinct at the V&A Waterfront. Ferries depart at 9am onwards every hour on the hour.
There is a small shop on the island for buying refreshments and souvenirs. Take a jacket as the sea breezes can get chilly crossing over the harbour. |
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6. Boschendal Manor & Winery
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| This winery is situated dramatically against the backdrop of the Groot Drakenstein Mountains. The impressive Dutch buildings are situated in tree-lined avenues, with the most gorgeous rose and herb gardens. We sampled the wine sitting underneath a beautiful old woody tree and later had lunch in their wonderful restaurant. |
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The towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are extremely beautiful, with seventeeth-century building; dappled avenues of 300 year old Oak trees makes these towns inspiring and inviting to visit.
Make sure you visit the Cabriere Estate cradled by the mountains in the scenic Fransechoek valley. The estate is deeply rooted in history dating back to 1694. The restaurant overlooks the Pinot Noir vineyards. |
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Most restaurants can be found at the waterfront..It would take days to eat through them. Here are some I found to be good.
The Famous Butchers Grill - great steaks.
Brasserie Den Anker - Belgian cruisine - waterfront...this is a fab restaurant.
Maria's - Greek. Dunkley Square
Tank- De Waterkant
Belthazar- best wine bar in the world...great seafood and steaks
Cape Grace Hotel - for a good whisky.
Coffee - Giovannis 103 Main Road, Green Point.
Vida e Caffe Kloof Street.
Cafe Caprice in Camps Bay-if you want to be apart of the hip scene.
Green Dolphin - Fabulous place for serious Jazz Lovers.
Beluga and Sevruga - fine dining and trendy on the waterfront.
Showroom, Ginja Restaurants are also good too.
Mama Africa - traditional African food with live music - city long Street.
Afro Cafe - excellent coffee/snacks in front of the markets - long street. |
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www.daytours.co.za - has a list of excellent tours available.
www.waterfrontboats.co.za - for water tours
www.34southtours.com - for private tours.
www.andulela.com - for shanty town tours.
We hired a private driver to take us around Capetown. Our driver was fabulous and we ended up taking her out for dinner...this is a good way to see the city, expecially if you have a few friends with you...to split the cost. Most of the hotels can arrange this to be done. |
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10. Villa Via Gordon's Bay Hotel
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This hotel is perfect to stay at if exploxing Gordon's Bay and the Camps Bay beaches.It is Capetown's newest seaside development. It is positioned beside a huge mountain, which makes this small town unique. The mountain meeting the sea makes a dramatic statement, one of nature's wonderful talents.
Gordons Bay is approx 40km from Capetown and can be reached by bus. |
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Ave price:
$263
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If you want to hang out in the most cool and hip place in Capetown, well this gorgeous village has it all. Fabulous restaurants, cafes and lovely old buildings. De Waterkant Village is located between Signal Hill and the Waterfront, between the CBD and Green Point. |
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12. Boulder's Beach - Penguins.
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Boulder's Beach is home to the African Penguin and its a fabulous day trip from Cape Town. The beach is close to Simon's Town on False Bay Coast. There are wooden walkways and viewing platforms for watching and observing the penguins. It cost R15 entrance fee.
If you want to stay in the area there is plenty of accommodation available the best being the Boulder's Beach Lodge located 70mtrs away.
SEALS. - can be seen up close at Duiker Island of Mariner's Wharf in Hout Bay. A boat tour takes approx 30mins. If your lucky you can often see seals at the waterfront. |
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Getting around Cape Town is easy especially if you use the open top hop on/ hop off bus which stops at all the major attractions in Capetown, you can catch the bus from the waterfront the whole tour lasts around two hours.
The Public transport system in Cape Town include city buses, taxi's, Rikkis, trains and mini buses.
Most tourists and locals use the minibuses they are very reasonable and good value. You can stop them like you would a cab ,you'll also see Rikkis in the center of Cape Town, they are small brightly colored vans that operate like taxis.
The trains run to all the suburban areas and they go as far as Stellenbosch and Paarl in the Winelands. The commuter train to Simons Town is a must do just for scenery. |
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Drivers must have a valid driving license, which displays his/her photograph upon it, or carry your passport with you as positive identification to verify you as the legal holder of the drivers license.
All the normal car companies operate from the airport - Avis / Budget/ Thrifty etc..
others>
www.aroundaboutcars.com
www.vineyardcarhire.co.za |
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Compliment Ellemay
